meissner



(No Model.) 5 2 Sheets-sheet 1.

' W. O. MEISSNER.

ARC LAMP.

Patented Feb. 20, 1894.

Vfifies seas UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM Ci MEISSNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WASHING- TON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ARC LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,125, dated February 20, 1894.

Application filed September 11, 1893. Serial No. 485,300. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM O. Mnissnnrt, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a new and usefnlImprovement in Arc Lamps,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to are lamps, and has for its object among other things, the production of a positive feed focusing lamp in which [0 the carbons are positively and automatically adjusted, regardless of the position of the lamp, and in a new manner; and also, the production of a lamp in which a single shunt magnet or solenoid is employed to feed and adjust the carbons, and also a lamp containing various and sundry features of construction and operation as hereinafter set out.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the lamp mech- 2o anism, the sides of the case being removed. Fig. 2 is a section on line 22, of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the lamp mechanism as seen from the opposite side to that shown in Fig. 1.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

A is the lamp case which supports and protects the mechanism.

0 B and C are the positive and negative carbon rods, each of which has a rack B, C. Said racks mesh with the pinions D, D Said pinions are fastened to the shaft D, the pinion D being insulated therefrom by the 5 insulating material D The shaft D is supported by the standards D D which are rigid with the piece D. Said piece D is fastened to the case A, and is insulated therefrom by the insulating material D E is a spool carrying the shunt magnet coil E.

E is the movable iron core of the coil E and has fastened to its upper end the brass rod E, which passes through aholein the top of the case A.

E is a ring integral with said rod, and through which passes the rod Fastened to the rod is the sleeve E to which is pivoted the arm E, said arm being pivoted at its other end to the piece E which is fastened to the lever F of the double acting clutch,

and insulated therefrom by the insulating material E. This lever F is pivoted between the members F, F of the bifurcated piece F (see Fig. Said members F, F encompass the positive carbon rod B.

F is a iiat shoe, which is rigid with the piece F and which bears against the positive carbon rod B.

F is the clamping toe of the clutch, and is rigid on the end of the lever F. Said toe is provided with the two clamping edges F F. The piece F engages with the sliding sleeve H by means of the slot F This sleeve ITI slides along the rod H, which is fastened to the case A by means of the piece H which is supported on the insulation H The rod II has the two fixed collars Jand J, between which and the sleeve H are the springs J ,J

Returning now to the rod E" which carries the sleeve E said rod is preferably integral with the frame K, which is pivoted at K on the hangers K and thetwo side bars of which pass on opposite sides of the rod B, and are joined at their outer ends with the cross piece L,wl1ich serves also as a counter-weight to balance the core on the solenoid. To one side of this frame is secured the adjustable spring M, the other end of which is attached to the screw-bolt M, and to the opposite arm of the frame, or rather at the lower edge of the cross-piece L, is secured the hook N, the lower end of which N is adapted to engage the circuit making and breaking arm 0, which normally rests upon the adjustable screw 0, is pivoted at O and downwardly forced by the spring 0 This spring also serves as a part of the circuit, and is connected with the binding screw 0, whence leads the conductor 0 to the magnet windings E of the spool E. 0 The parts just referred to are mounted upon the insulation block 0.

I is a wire leading from the binding post I insulated at P to the coil on the spool.

P is a conductor leading from the same binding post to the support or piece H and on this support or piece is placed the spring contact P", which engages the carbon rod B.

R is a conductor leading from the binding post R to the standard 1) on the plate D IOO On this standard is the spring contact R which engages the carbon rod C.

, support of the set screw with the brush R at the point W, where the conductor R is also connected with such brush.

It is evident, of course, that very many changes could be made in the construction here shown, without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown. At least, some of the parts as here illustrated could be dispensed with, and others substituted, without depriving the remaining parts of their significance as part of this invention, or to prevent their operating in the manner as herein set out.

The use and operation of my invention are substantially as follows, referencefor understanding thereof being had to the construction substantially as shown in the drawings, hereinbefore described. The lamp as constructed is of course to be located in any desired position, and the two binding posts are connected with the circuit, and any desired switch could be employed. To supply the lamp with carbons, the two rods are separated at the properdistance, and the carbons then inserted. This is done by simply moving the carbon rods apart, they being free to move. Under these circumstances, the parts will be in the position indicated in Fig. 1. If now the current be applied, the carbons being slightly separated, which is the preferred condition in which they are to be left, the circuit will be established as follows: from binding post P through the shunt conductor P, through the coils E on the spool E, through the conductor 0 to the binding screw 0 along the conductor O to the binding screw 0 to the circuit making and breaking arm 0, to the set screw 0, thence, by the short conductor W to the conductor R, and thence to the binding post R. In other words, a complete circuit will be formed, including the shunt coil, and since the carbons are separated, no circuit will be formed through them. For the time being therefore, the shunt circuit is the main or only circuit. This energizes the magnet or solenoid, and causes it to draw down its core and rock the rod E and frame K on the pivot K. This forces down the link or bar E and also the piece F until the lower point F of the toe F clamps the rod 13 between itself and the shoe F and then the further downward motion of the parts draws down the rod B, and since it is connected with the rod 0 by means of the shaft and pinions, forces the rod C upward,--in other words, brings the two carbon rods and their carbons toward each other. If the carbons are separated so far that this motiondoes not bring them in contact, the downward motion of the core will-continue until the hook N 1s lifted so far that its lower end N engages the circuit making and breaking bar 0, and lifts it from the set screw 0, breaking the circuit, whereby the parts are instantly restored to their original position,and the opera ioncontinues until the carbons are brought lnto engagement with each other. When this occurs, the current is of course instantly diverte to the main or carbon circuit, which is as ollows: This circuit begins with the binding post P, follows the conductor 13 tothe piece H then by the brush P to the carbon rod B, thence along the carbon rod B through the carbons to carbon rod 0, to brush R thence to conductor R, thence to binding post B. When the circuitis so established, the current of course is diverted from the shunt magnet, and its parts tend to resume the normal position indicated in Fig. 1, and this they start to do the instant the carbons are brought in contact, and the main circuit established. In so doing, however, the upper point F of the toe F clamps the rod B between itself and the shoe F and slightly raises said rod, at the same time slightly lowering the rod 0, whereby the carbons are sufficiently separated to establish the arc. The several springs tend to restore the parts in opposition to the action of the current, 850., and it is not thought necessary to more specifically describe their several functions. As the arc burns and the space between the carbons widens a greater proportion of the current is diverted to the shunt magnet, and its core is pulled downwardly, thus moving the carbons nearer together, whereupon the core of the magnet slightly rises, but not far enough to engage and thus farther separate the carbons. In this manner the carbons are continuously operated to maintain a substantially constant arc, the parts being suitably adjusted to bring about such result.

If, for any reason, the carbon rods fail to work, or are so situated that the carbons cannot be brought near enough together to maintain the arc, the whole of the current will be diverted to the shunt, and the operation first described will take place, viz: The circuit will be broken, when the clutch reaches the limit of motion in the direction which moves the carbons closer together. The springs then pull the clutch back to its normal position, again closing the circuit, and allowing the operation to be repeated.

1. In an arc lamp the combination of a carbon rod, with a clutch having two clamping edges rigidly united in one structure and adapted to alternately clutch and move the rod in either direction, and a magnet connected with so as to control said clutch.

2. The combination in an arc lamp of two carbon rods provided each with a rack, a clutch mechanism adapted to clutch and move one of the said rods in either direction, ashaft with a pinion at one end which meshes with the rack on one of said carbon rods, and a second pinion on said shaft which meshes with the rack on the other carbon rod, whereby the carbons are fed substantially as described.

3. The combination in an arc lamp, of a carbon rod with a clutch comprising a bifurcated piece which encompasses said rod, a clamping toe pivoted between the members of said bifurcated piece, said toe provided with two clamping edges adapted to engage said carbon rod, and move in either direction, a shunt magnet which controls the movement of said clutch and connections whereby the circuit through the shunt magnet is broken when the clutch reaches the limit of its motion, substantially as described.

4. The combination in an arc lamp of two movable carbon rods, a clutch comprising a bifurcated piece which encompasses one of said rods, a clamping toe pivoted between the members of said bifurcated piece, said too provided with two clamping edges adapted to alternately engage one side of said carbon rod and a sliding shoe adapted to engage the other side of said carbon rod, substantially as described.

5. In an arc lamp the combination of a carbon rod, with a clutch having two clamping edges rigidly united in one structure and adapted to alternately clutch and move the rod in either direction, and a magnet connected with so as to control said clutch, and connections whereby the circuit through the magnet is broken when the-clutch reaches the limit of its motion.

\VILLIAM O. MEI SSNER.

itnesses:

DON M. CARTER, WALTER J. GUNTHORP. 

